First step towards a minimalist life.

So, as I mentioned in my last post I have recently moved into a new house. New home! New start as they say, my goal is to slowly strip away my need for material things as I continue my quest in search of inner peace. This is a very difficult step as I need to handle the transition with care as my family are not ready to change, so I don't want to force my new views on my family as I want them to choose their own path and join me at the level they feel most comfortable.

My first change is to remove all my own impulsive purchases for stuff! not food items though! This would be just too much at once. Reducing my consuming is a challenge not only has it been a major source of entertainment for me for the last 10 years but additionally, as we are in a new house with new colour schemes and room sizes, a lot of our furniture is too large or the wrong colour. So, I'm looking to adapt each item, I will paint or upholster each piece to create the desired effect where possible. I will use YouTube to learn new painting technics and how to upholster, this is a major step change in the way I have lived my life. Now all I need to do is persuade my wife that she should let me try before she buys what she wants.

This is a new challenge, we used to just buy a new replacement on a whim and take the old to the dump which was wasteful and unsustainable. Reusing old by upgrading it, and where I can't look for a second-hand alternative is a far more sustainable and rewarding way of life. Although my wife still needs convincing, but she too is listening and thinking before spending.

My other big change is reducing my wardrobe size this does not seem like an area where major savings can be made but by reducing my need for cloths especially all unpractical items that only really contribute to fashion, I will save in the future as my wardrobe has been streamlined and built to suit my lifestyle.

T-shirts, jeans, shorts and sleepwear make up my day to day, I have a single suit now for weddings and funerals. Outdoor ware and specific items like gym ware and hiking cloths are not included in the cull. I have gone from a double wardrobe to 7 plastic draws and a vacuum storage bag. I'm not going to win any fashion shows, but my wardrobe is now as down to earth as I want to become. Going forward I will only replace perished cloths, with high quality cloths made in the UK. Whether this is possible or not, it is the target. Eventually I would like to only wear made in the UK. Hopefully this will identify areas where we are lacking as a nation and inspire people to create their own cottage industries.